Federal prosecutors say the former treasurer diverted booster club money to pay her mortgage and credit card bills.
ALISO VIEJO, CA — A former treasurer of a nonprofit supporting the Aliso Niguel High School football program was arrested Thursday on federal charges accusing her of diverting more than $400,000 from the organization for personal expenses.
Julie Hanway Molina, 56, of Aliso Viejo, is charged with four counts of wire fraud after a federal grand jury returned an indictment Sept. 2. Prosecutors allege Molina misappropriated approximately $411,761 from the football booster organization between 2023 and November 2025. The indictment is an allegation, and Molina is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Federal prosecutors said Molina served as treasurer of the nonprofit organization supporting the high school football program and had access to its finances. Authorities allege she transferred money from the group’s bank account without its knowledge or authorization, using the funds for personal expenses that included her home mortgage and credit card bills.
One of the transactions outlined by prosecutors occurred in June 2023. Authorities allege Molina wired approximately $131,523 from the nonprofit’s bank account in Laguna Hills through Federal Reserve facilities in New Jersey and Texas to an account in Santa Ana. Prosecutors said the money was used to pay the delinquent balance on the mortgage for her Aliso Viejo home.
Investigators also allege Molina tried to conceal the unauthorized transfers from other members of the organization. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California, Molina sent emails to board members containing treasurer reports that did not disclose the money prosecutors say she had diverted.
ABC7 identified the organization as the Wolverine Football Club, which supports the football program at Aliso Niguel High School. The club said in a statement that it was aware of the allegations involving its former treasurer and had cooperated fully with law enforcement during the investigation. The Capistrano Unified School District told the station that Molina was not a district employee and that the booster club operates as a separate organization.
FBI agents arrested Molina at her Aliso Viejo home on Sept. 10. Video reported by ABC7 showed federal agents outside the residence before Molina came out and was taken into custody. The U.S. Attorney’s Office said she was expected to make an initial appearance and be arraigned in U.S. District Court in Santa Ana later that day.
The FBI is investigating the case, according to federal prosecutors. If convicted, Molina could face a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison on each wire fraud count. A maximum statutory penalty does not indicate what sentence would ultimately be imposed if there is a conviction.
No later court disposition or plea had been confirmed in the available reporting as of early Sept. 11. The federal criminal case remains pending, and prosecutors will be required to prove the allegations beyond a reasonable doubt.
Author note: Last updated September 11, 2026.